From: Tanya
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 7:54 AM
To: rainbowbabies@alltel.net
Subject: interview
Hi!
I am a fashion journalism student from Epsom and am really interested in writing a piece about reborn babies for my final major project. I was wondering if you would be willing to answer a couple of questions for me about what you do? I could send you the questions via email and I promise they wouldn't take long to answer!
I really would be very grateful if you could help me!
Thank you,
Tanya K....
Sarah response:
Good Morning Tanya
We would be glad to help you anyway possible and I hope the information we provide back will be of help to you in completing your project!
Hugs sent straight from
Rainbow Babies Nursery
Bob and Sarah Stembridge
And the questions from Tanya:
From: Tanya
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 9:03 AM
To: Rainbow Babies
Subject: RE: interview
Hi Bob, hi Sarah!Thank you so much for replying and agreeing to answer my questions! I would really appreciate it if you could answer them in as much detail as possible and hope this isn't too much trouble!Here are my questions:
- When did you decided to start making Reborn Babies and why?
- What is the process of getting a Reborn Baby? Do people send photos of babies in as a model?
- In your experience, what are the reasons for people wanting one of the babies?
- Do you find that you have a specific customer type, ie of a certain age or social standing?
- Do you have customers that keep coming back for new babies?
- How do people react to your babies? Have you experienced negative reactions?
- Some people treat their Reborn Babies as real babies, they dress them and take them for walks in pushchairs. Do you think that they can be a replacement for real children?
- Do you think there is a danger that some people could get too attached to their baby and start to believe it is real?
- What do you enjoy most about your job?
- Where do you think the future of Reborn Babies lies?
- Being able to add a heart beat and the extreme detail suggests that the babies are already very advanced but do you think they could become even more realistic in the future?
Thank you once again for your time, it really will be a big help for my project!
Tanya
The answers:
- When did you decided to start making Reborn Babies and why?
We bought a Reborn Baby on eBay, which was a Valentine’s Day (2001) gift for Sarah. When it arrived, we were sorely disappointed. The hair was rooted in clumps, not evenly distributed like natural hair should look. But we had fallen in love with the Reborn and we were not going to send her back. Rather, we researched the proper methods for transforming the dolls. We completely redid the hair, blushing and coloring, stuffing, nails and method of reassembly. Shortly afterwards, we bought two more UN-reborn dolls. One became the brother of the Valentine’s Day baby and the other one became our first Reborn sell on eBay. - What is the process of getting a Reborn Baby? Do people send photos of babies in as a model?
Most of our Reborns are sold on eBay. Letting the photos of the Reborn speak to those viewing the auction, we often heard from our buyers, “This reminds me so much of my daughter when she was small.” But we also do custom Reborns, starting from photos or allowing the “adoptive parents” the chance to view the selections of faces that are available. They always have the final decision in selection of the facial expressions, thus giving them pride and ownership even before the Reborn is delivered. - In your experience, what are the reasons for people wanting one of the babies?
Many are just grownup little girls who still love their dolls. Many are collectors, which just got to have the newest facial expression. Others, and the most passionate of those looking to purchase a Reborn, are those that want a way to capture a moment in time and remember their own children or grandchildren. - Do you find that you have a specific customer type, i.e. of a certain age or social standing?
The Reborn Baby community is diverse. Since most of our sales are made via eBay or our website, our customers are internet savvy. Our initial communication is by email and we find that most use correct grammar – indicating they are well educated.
We have never heard, “Oh, that is too much to pay for a doll.” We see them buying the Reborn as a luxury purchase, perhaps not buying the new shoes and purse this week but a Reborn instead.
As far as age, we have had ten year old girls and Great-Grandmothers inquire about our Reborns. - Do you have customers that keep coming back for new babies?
We have several adoptive parents that have twins. But one of customers owns 6 of our Reborns. She would not allow herself to be outbid on our auction. Once while she was on vacation, she total missed one of eBay auctions. When she returned, she emailed us and asked, “Is it possible for you to make another Reborn like the one that just sold?” As closely as possible we made another, placed the auction with a “Buy it Now” and in less than 5 minutes, she made the purchase. - How do people react to your babies? Have you experienced negative reactions?
We are blessed to have never experienced a negative reaction from our customers. We have delivered Reborns to about 60% of the States in America, many foreign countries and every continent except Antarctica.
When we deliver Reborns in person or are taking a sample of our works to show prospective customers, we love to see the reactions of unknowing co-workers and family members. We often get double takes and expressions of, “That’s a doll? I thought it was a real baby.” We have never gotten an “ewwww, that’s creepy” comment from people that we have met with one of the Reborns. But then, we don’t make take them into public on a regular basis. - Some people treat their Reborn Babies as real babies; they dress them and take them for walks in pushchairs. Do you think that they can be a replacement for real children?
Guilty!!! We don’t dress our “we are going to keep this one” Reborns for going outside or take them for rides in our automobile. But we have a closet full of clothes (all 0 to 3 months size), a hospital nursery crib and several years ago we both an antique Pram. The Pram is displayed in our dining room with a few of our Reborns ready “to take a walk”. But, they haven’t moved from the window that overlooks our family farm.
While Reborns can give someone great comfort, we do not feel that they are replacement for real children. We (yes, Bob too) can be found holding a Reborn, especially after the process is complete and the Reborn is ready to be delivered to the adoptive parents. There is a calming effect that can be realized by holding and rocking a Reborn, taking one back to the days when their own children were babes. - Do you think there is a danger that some people could get too attached to their baby and start to believe it is real?
http://www.aolvideoblog.com/2008/01/08/my-fake-baby/ … uh, yeah!!! We have a suspicion that those three videos might be the inspiration for some of your questions. Bob’s sister sent him the link to the videos mid-January. - What do you enjoy most about your job?
You thought that we were going to say, “It’s the joy we see as we hand over the Reborn to the adoptive parent for the first time”.
That too, but…it’s details, that is, watching the doll as it is transformed into a Reborn. As each step of the creative process brings the baby closer to completion, the Reborn seems to take on a personality of its own. Each one is One-of-a-kind. Even when starting with two identical dolls, they gain uniqueness which speaks to the Reborn Artist in the course of the process. - Where do you think the future of Reborn Babies lies?
- Being able to add a heart beat and the extreme detail suggests that the babies are already very advanced but do you think they could become even more realistic in the future?
How about we answer both these questions together?
The future and realism of the art of Reborns is only limited to the amount of details the manufacturers are willing to put into the kits from which Reborners make the Babies. As the demands for realism increase, the competition between the Toy Makers will result in more life-like elements (more fat wrinkles and rolls, more face molds, more life-like materials) being incorporated into the dolls that are used to make Reborns. Many of these innovations would be available today, if they were not cost prohibitive. Thus, many Reborners have begun to sculpt their own, in order to stay ahead of the pack.
Perhaps at some point manufacturers may offer “Reborns” directly to consumers. But they will never equate the love that the Reborn Artist put into the craft. As they select next doll sitting on the shelf, they add the details and part of themselves as the transformation is made from a “child’s play doll into a Reborn Baby”.
Tanya, we would really love to have a copy of your complete project. Best wishes for you and your future endeavors.
Rainbow Babies Nursery
Bob and Sarah
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